There are several permits you can buy for different prices, and the "recreation pass" is only good for the summer months. If you plan on riding all year you must purchase either a fishing or hunting permit. These are good for one year from purchase date. It is advised that you not mention you're going to be riding dual sport bikes, just that you plan to recreate on their excellent military lands.

There are generally three types of riding offered on the PAR thread. Hope you enjoy the area riding as much as we all do&#8230;

1) ADV rides- slower paced (not slow but slower paced) rides through mostly Blackwater State Park and other area beyond. Bigger 650s 400s do well on these rides. For those wanting a good ride without running a race. Stops, pic opps, and eating are normally on the agenda. Rides are as long or short as folks want.
2) FASTBURN &#8211; This is phrase I coined a while back to refer to a much faster paced ride through the tightest trails/jeep roads we can find. Most rides are through Eglin so permits are required. High skill levels are not required but highly recommended. The rides are usually in the morning and are over in 3 to 4 hours.
3) Beasty Rides where the action is almost all street. Great rides through Fl, Al and beyond.

YOU MUST HAVE A TAGGED AND STREET LEGAL BIKE FOR ALL RIDES

Meeting Places

Blackwater State Park &#8211; Hutton Unit
30.686006
-86.876478
From Milton &#8211; East on HW90 to Hutton Store (about 9 miles from Milton bridge) and turn LEFT on to Deaton Bridge Rd (signs point to State Park and Canoe Rental). Go North 2 miles and Hutton Unit parking will be on the left.

Broxson Landing(Eglin Permit Required)
30.569447
-86.923423

From Pensacola &#8211; take I10 East and exit HW87 (Exit 37?) and go South until you cross the big bridge and then turn LEFT to boat ramp and ADV Parking Area.

From 98 &#8211; go to Navarre and North on HW87 and then just BEFORE big bridge turn off onto boat ramp area.

Timberlake Pond (Eglin Permit Required)

30 28 30.90 N
86 36 01 61 W
From Pensacola on 98 - Head East until you reach Mary Ester Cut Off. Big Four Lane just past Target. Stay on Mary Ester cut-off until it tees into Beal street. Take a LEFT and keep going about 5 miles. On the way you will pass Fair Grounds on left and Golf Course on Right. You are close. Keep going and look to left for Red Sign and parking area can be seen from road.
From I -10 - Exit I-10 South on 85 towards Niceville. Bear Right at 126 and go to Airport. Just before airport, Turn Right on 4 lane and then take Next (first) right onto one way - then join 4 lane and look for Second Paved Right. (First right is for bicycles) Look for sign Gravel parking area. Park toward the end.

Spec Pond (Eglin Permit Required)

30.698045
-86.389138

Get On I-10 and get off at Exit 70 (HW285) and then go SOUTH 3 miles and exit at Spec Pond on your LEFT (east side of road). You can see pond from road.

To all who may or may not give a shizz: My line of work brings me in contact with some interesting stuff occasionally. Some of you are probably already aware of some of these facts, but reading this today just reinforced for me:

a. why we are lucky as hell to be able to ride the sh-ite out of Eglin; b. why the rules are so particular about not cutting new trails--and staying on the existing "roads", etc.; and c. just what a rare jewel that stretch of real estate is... just IMHO:

The Base is considered to be one of the largest and most important public land holdings in the southeast United States. It contains an unique assemblages of plants and animals, including several species and subspecies found nowhere else. The terrain consists of rolling sand hill ridges dissected by numerous clear, cool perennial seepage streams which total approximately 600 miles and include some of the highest quality steephead creeks in the southeast.

The most prominent natural community type (78%) on Eglin is the sandhills with excessively drained sands which are generally strongly acidic and low in natural fertility and organic content. The xeric uplands sandhill association is dominated by an overstory of scattered longleaf pine with an understory of turkey oaks, bluejacks, sand post oaks and live oaks. Rare plant species include southern three-awned grass (Aristida simpliciflora), toothed savory (clamintha dentata), and pineland hoary pea (Tephrosia mohrii).

Much of this association has been affected by early naval stores, logging, and fire control practices which severely reduced the pine overstory and led to encroachment by sand pine and various scrub oaks.

Eglin is considered to be the largest intact sandhill ecosystem in the southeast and is thought to possess the largest contiguous old growth longleaf pine forest remaining in the world. Eglin's sandhill ecosystem supports the world's fourth largest population of red-cockaded woodpeckers, 95% of the entire range of the endangered Okaloosa darter, the only known population of the endangered lichen Cladonia perforata and , because of the soil structure, supports an extremely high diversity of rare herpetofauna.

In addition to the sandhill community, Eglin includes almost half of the currently recognized 83 natural communities in Florida, making the base a tremendously important area for preserving biodiversity. There are over 47 taxa of rare plants found on the base including two which are almost exclusively restricted to Eglin. The Base also contains 20 miles of pristine barrier islands along the Gulf of Mexico which provides habitat for numerous rare species. Eglin's barrier island supports the largest intact population of beach mice in northwest Florida and 53% of the entire state's population of threatened snowy plover (a bird). In addition, Eglin's beaches provide nesting areas for loggerhead and green sea turtles and serve as an important rest area for neotropical migratory birds."

So basically, it would definitely behoove us to maintain the high standards that the ADV folks are known for out there (I am not kidding) by the authorities. I know several of us have had this conversation before, especially the more senior (in tenure in ADV) riders here...

Jackson Guard in Niceville. For a nominal fee they will give you a nice map of Eglin and even treat you to a movie( no popcorn though). Just a short video to educate you on unexploded ordinances. But it is a must see. I believe they are open Monday - Friday , not sure of the hours but you can call 850-882-4165.

I'd be interested in some weekend riding. I'm based out on Innerarity Point. Just PM me with some more details. We can chat about getting together soon. Saturdays are best, because my girl works and it's hard to ignore her on her Sunday off. Do you know other riders in the area? I'm new here and could use some riding partners. Got a DR650 that needs a good workout. Let me know, bud.

I'm in Pensacola--you wanna check out Blackwater this Saturday? Lotsa dirt roads to explore out there, not too far of a ride from Innerarity. I'll probably be heading out there Saturday mid-morning, will be glad to show you around.

Blackwater on Saturday sounds peachy. I have the day wide open. You pick a meeting spot and a time and I'll be there. Maybe since you suggested a ride you could contact XT and relay the plan. I am the worst organizer in this hemisphere so relying on my direction something will get botched up for sure. I'm not super familiar with the area, so an easy googleable landmark or some lat/long coordinates would assure my arrival at the correct location. Looking forward to not riding alone like always . I'll check the thread or just PM me.

One of my local riding buddies said he'd try to join us on the ride tomorrow, and offered a spot on his trailer to anybody that doesn't want to burn up their knobbies on the trip out there. He'd be coming from west Pensacola, anybody wanna take him up on his offer?

Ineptizoid and I explored Blackwater today and we'll be moving onto the western portion soon. That was fun, mate. Another Saturday get together would be great. Maybe some of you other fools can join us.

I'll probably head out there next week or the following. If anyone would like to ride along, let me know.

Ineptizoid and I explored Blackwater today and we'll be moving onto the western portion soon. That was fun, mate. Another Saturday get together would be great. Maybe some of you other fools can join us.

I'll probably head out there next week or the following. If anyone would like to ride along, let me know.

Also would like to explore eglin soon. Need to get my permit though.

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glad to hear everything went well, hopefully Ill be able to join on the next ride

My buddy and I actually made the ride out to ft. walton for the permit for the eglin range, but ended up screwin around and getting there after they closed, so now I gotta ride over there again

the west part definetly is sandy, which means dusty, so dont forget yer goggles!

I actually found a set of trenches dug into a hill while on my initial voyage into the unknown, couple of MRE hotbags lyin around in em..

Were you out and about today? Only seen your bikes in these pics, but I'm pretty sure it was you. I was gonna turn around and chat but I was on an agenda. Anyway, that's a great bike. Kindof mad max, and I bet you don't get cut off alot. It makes me feel like if I cut you off, you might take off my side mirror with a fist. Ruggedized!!! I like it.

yup I was on my way to work - im sure it was a sight when ^ pulls up, takes the helmet and jacket off and walks into the deli with the meat slicin apron already on

I like the way you put that... instead of loud pipes or reflective vests, I have the "I'll put a meat cleaver through your windshield" thing goin on
its funny, cos most people call the xt225 a "girls" bike. I beg to differ. though it has required a couple modifications from factory.

Come on in the deli at brunos if ya see the bike out front, thats where Im at. If you come in after 8pm, you get everything on the hotbar for .99/lb

thanks mayne, the ammo can is a great saddlebag for the whole $3 I spent on it. and you are absoluetly correct, that bike only weighs like 240 and is super short (31" I believe) it really is perfect for that bottomless sand where you gotta kinda dogpaddle the bike through (or pick it back up after losing it )

I think maybe next weekend would be a good time for me, we'll see as the week progresses.. I'll be planning on it

oh and nothing will get you ready for live rattlesnake encounters - theyll surprise the shit outta ya every time, unless theyre stretched across the road. them motherfuckers know how to hide in plain sight - Ive stepped right over a handful of em, just too cold for em to bite and kill my ass, cause its always waay out in the middle of nowhere. just look where yer goin.:eek1

Hey man I like that XT! I had one of those about 5 yrs ago, had a blast on it. Kept up with much bigger bikes on the FS roads in the Chattahoochee Natl. Forest in N. Ga., and I wasn't exhausted at the end of the day from wrestling a 300+ lb. bike around! I'm a big fan of lightweight DS bikes, they really shine offroad...

We had a great time riding Blackwater yesterday, hope to do it again this coming weekend. Enjoyed meeting up and riding with you fellas!

Cost Includes Admission to the Beulah Sausage Festival with
Preferred Parking and a Sausage and Soda

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